Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev has sought to calm concerns over new checks in the capital's parks, saying children can ride bicycles and families can celebrate birthdays there as long as they follow existing rules and do not disturb other visitors.
“Your child can safely ride a bike in the park. And yes, you can celebrate their birthday there. You can walk, play sports, gather with friends and enjoy the city,” Terziev said in response to reports that Sofia was introducing fines for children's birthday parties and banning bicycles in parks.
The mayor stressed that the municipality has not introduced new restrictions. The rules governing bicycles, scooters and celebrations in public spaces have been in place for years, including provisions adopted by the Sofia Municipal Council in 2023.
“We do not fine children because they have a birthday. We do not fine their parents because they brought a cake to the park. And we do not fine a child because he rides a bicycle,” Terziev wrote. “But there are rules. They are not new. And there is a reason for them.”
The issue came into focus after municipal inspectors and police conducted checks in Sofia parks, including the park Borisova Gradina. Cyclists were stopped and informed that riding on pedestrian paths was not allowed. They were not fined during the operation but were given information leaflets explaining the applicable rules.
Under the regulations, bicycles cannot be ridden on sidewalks or areas designated for pedestrians, with an exception for children under 12. Cyclists are also prohibited from riding two abreast in urban areas or using bus lanes. They must use designated bicycle lanes or ride as far to the right of the roadway as possible. When crossing a pedestrian path, cyclists are required to get off their bicycles and walk them across.
The rules also impose restrictions on electric scooters. The municipality says that in 2025 Sofia recorded about four scooter accidents per 100,000 residents. Terziev attributed the improvement to increased enforcement, sanctions, field work and an information campaign. More than 1,600 electric scooter violations have been sanctioned by the municipality together with the Sofia police since the beginning of this year.
“We do not want people to learn the rules when they get a fine or when an accident happens. We want them to know them before they get on,” Terziev said.
The municipality has also emphasized that the restrictions on park celebrations do not amount to a ban on children's birthdays or ordinary family gatherings. A parent bringing a cake to the park or a family having a quiet celebration is not the target of the rules.
The situation is different for organized events that occupy public space, involve larger groups or create noise and other disruptions. Such events must be declared to the Sofia Municipality at least seven working days in advance. They can take place between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m., provided that public order and permitted noise levels are observed.
According to Deputy Mayor for Security Lachezar Milushev, very few applications for park celebrations are currently submitted, even though the requirement has existed for some time. The purpose, he said, is not to prevent people from using public spaces, but to make it clear who is organizing an event, where and when it will take place, and to avoid conflicts when several groups want to use the same location.
“No one will refuse a child's birthday party or a family gathering in the park. The point is that when we organize an event, we should do it in a way that respects the people around us,” Milushev said.
The municipality receives hundreds of complaints during the summer about barbecues in unauthorized locations, loud music, noisy celebrations and waste left in parks. Some reports also concern unidentified substances found in sandboxes and near areas where children play.
A sanction may be imposed when an organized event is held without the required application or when its organizers violate public order, use loudspeakers in a way that disturbs others, light a barbecue where it is prohibited or leave garbage behind. Organizers are responsible for cleaning the area, protecting municipal property and restoring the site to its previous condition. Waste such as balloons, decorations and plastic items is a particular concern because it can end up in green spaces.
For an event held without the required advance notification, the applicable fines are between about 153 and 255 euros, rising to roughly 306 to 511 euros for a repeated violation. Separate sanctions can apply when organizers fail to meet their obligations concerning public order, cleanliness or municipal property.
Milushev said the municipality's objective is to protect the rights and peace of other residents rather than punish people for using parks.
“The application means that citizens are responsible to other citizens who reside in this public space,” he said.
Terziev said the same principle applies to both cycling and celebrations: the municipality first informs residents about the rules and expects them to comply, while repeated or serious violations can lead to enforcement.
“We do not want a city in which an inspector or police officer is needed for everything. We want a city in which we understand why there are rules and have enough respect for each other to follow them,” the mayor said.
He urged Sofia residents to continue using the city's parks while being considerate of others.
“Ride your bikes and scooters. Celebrate your birthdays. Get together with friends. Use the parks. But do it in a way that the person next to you can also use this same city,” Terziev said. “The rules are not against our freedom. They protect the freedom of all of us.”
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